Dr. Ben Iyiola Oyefara, MD, FAAP, FACAAI, FAAAAI, is a man of many facets – Altruist, Leader, Mentor, Philanthropist, Educational Supporter of a great note and a professor of Allergy and Immunology; these are a few titles he garnered in his humanitarian services to all the communities he finds himself. A man of unassuming humility, he takes family, business, and community to the heart of his existence.
Dr. Oyefara established Dr. Iyiola Oyefara e-Library in Ila-Orangun (2016) as well as Dr. Iyiola Oyefara Computer Laboratory in Oke-Ila Orangun (2019) to cater for Secondary School Students and particularly the UTME/JAMB candidates. It is worth mentioning that over 1,800 students/ candidates have benefitted from this gesture of humanity.
He is the President and Medical Director of the Asthma & Allergy Center in Monroe, Louisiana, USA. He is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Consultant Physician in Allergy/Immunology at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Louisiana. He is also an adjunct Clinical Professor (Allergy/immunology) at William Carey College of Osteopathic Medicine in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Dr. Iyiola Oyefara is a native of Ila Orangun (Ile Ejemu, Iperin Street). He attended St. Matthew’s Primary School, Ila Orangun from 1959 to 1964 and Ila Grammar School from 1967 to 1971. He was the Head Prefect at Ila Grammar School in 1971. Between January and August 1972, Dr. Oyefara taught French and Physics at Oyan Grammar School, Oyan in Osun State. In September 1972, he was admitted to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State to study Medicine. He graduated B.Sc. Health Sciences in 1976 and also obtained his medical degree (MB.Ch.B) in 1979. He was awarded the Faculty of Health Sciences Foundation Dean’s Medal for the best performance in the Bachelor’s degree examination.
After graduating from Ife, he was appointed House Officer at Adeoyo State Hospital from 1979 to 1980. He then served as a National Youth Service Corps Doctor at Ahoada General Hospital in Rivers State from 1980 to 1981. Between 1981 and 1986, Dr. Oyefara worked as a Medical Officer in charge of different hospitals in Rivers State. He was appointed Secretary to the Hospital Disciplinary Committee by the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Fidelis Oyakhilome in 1986.
In September 1986, he immigrated to the United States and undertook a Residency in Pediatrics at Howard University Hospital and District of Columbia General Hospital in Washington DC from 1987 to 1990. He received several Awards for best performance during his pediatric training including: Intern of the YearAward in 1988, Chairman’s Award in 1989, Outstanding Resident Award for 3 years of Pediatric Training in 1990. In addition, he won the William Alonzo Warfield Award for the best overall performance among all Residents graduating from different departments at Howard University Hospital in 1990. He was certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in 1990.
Dr. Oyefara then undertook a clinical fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and University of Pennsylvania from 1990 to1992. During his fellowship training, he won the Allergy Fellowship Training Award from Allen & Hanburys to fund his clinical research in 1991. In 1992, he received a grant from the National Institutes of Health to undertake a 2-year research fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He was certified by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology in 1993.
Dr. Oyefara was appointed Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and Consultant Allergist/ Immunologist, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia from1994 to 1998. While at the University of Pennsylvania, he won the following Awards: Center of Excellence Faculty Scholar at University of Pennsylvania in 1994, Molecular Approach to Pediatric Science Scholar from the National Institutes of Health in1994 and 1995 as well as
Physician Scientist Award from the National Institutes of Health in 1995.
He relocated to Louisiana State in 1999 and is currently a member of the Louisiana State Medical Society. Dr. Oyefara was elected the President of the Louisiana State Society of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology from 2009 to 2010. He was the first Black Physician to be elected to that position since the Society was founded in 1974. He served on the Executive Board of the Society for 5 years and remains an active member to date. He is also a fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is a member of the Joint Council on Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the American Medical Association, as well as Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA).
Dr. Iyiola Oyefara has many scientific publications to his credit in highly reputable professional journals.
He is married to former Ms. Dorcas Tayewo Akinwumi from Ile Balogun, Ila Orangun. The couple is blessed with godly children and grandchildren.
